I know a large portion of the tech crowd is against computers so dont come down on me too hard for this question. I am taking advanced nitrox this winter and want a multi gas computer to add safety to my dives. I do plan all my dives and try to stick to it but occasionally an Amberjack will talk me into descending deeper than planed. I have been looking at the Delta VR3, NiTek He, and the Abyss Explorer. Which computer is beat and why?
computers
- Thread starter steelslinger
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None of them are "best", and all of them are overkill for nitrox diving. They have all been discussed here in the past. Do a search for each.
OP
Weal it isnt the kill I believe in it is the overkill. I am sick of updating gear every 2 years because I got the bare minimum for my needs. I am looking to buy stuff to grow into. Ill get on that search right away.
preciate it,
steelslinger
preciate it,
steelslinger
sheck33
Contributor
waste your money
DeepTechScuba
Guest
A large portion of the tech crowd is definitely NOT against dive computers!
Tech divers normally wear two electronic diving devices whether computers or bottom timers, one as their primary instrument, and the second as a backup. But they normally also plan and slate their dive plans, and then follow the plan. Normally the plan is a square profile, to visit a shipwreck. But the argument in favor of using a technical dive computer (if such a thing truly exists and is reliable) is due to possible variation from the dive plan, such as in some cave diving.
A vocal micro-minority of so-called tech divers have definitely given you the wrong impression, if you think tech divers do not use nor love dive computers.
The thing I love the most about my dive computer is that even in gauge mode, where it primarily acts as a bottom timer, it still gives me a dive profile feature, so that I can go back after the dive and plot every minute of my dive. And when I am not diving technically then I can set it to air mode or more commonly nitrox mode.
I wear an UWATEC bottom timer as my backup, right next to my primary dive computer, so that I can view both read-outs of data at the same time, to make sure that they always agree, and to guard against not having a backup if one of them fails underwater.
So think like this: most tech divers are in favor of TWO computers at once!
Multi-gas computers are nice if you plan to dive repetitive multi-gas dives. If not, then there is not that big a difference in using a single gas nitrox computer, where you use multiple nitrox mixes, say for example, EAN25 as your diving gas and EAN40 or 50 as your deco gas. You set your computer to EAN25 and follow the EAN25 egression instructions.
If you really are going to do deco, however, you need to plan your dive and slate your dive plan, and then dive your plan, in case you lose your computer to failure of some kind, and you still have a deco obligation. Or else you would need to wear two multi-gas computers at once, or stick close to a buddy who has one as well.
I know that the DiveRite NiTec works well as a multigas air or nitrox computer. I have friends who use it.
I have not seen a trimix dive computer that works well yet, that I like.
Tech divers normally wear two electronic diving devices whether computers or bottom timers, one as their primary instrument, and the second as a backup. But they normally also plan and slate their dive plans, and then follow the plan. Normally the plan is a square profile, to visit a shipwreck. But the argument in favor of using a technical dive computer (if such a thing truly exists and is reliable) is due to possible variation from the dive plan, such as in some cave diving.
A vocal micro-minority of so-called tech divers have definitely given you the wrong impression, if you think tech divers do not use nor love dive computers.
The thing I love the most about my dive computer is that even in gauge mode, where it primarily acts as a bottom timer, it still gives me a dive profile feature, so that I can go back after the dive and plot every minute of my dive. And when I am not diving technically then I can set it to air mode or more commonly nitrox mode.
I wear an UWATEC bottom timer as my backup, right next to my primary dive computer, so that I can view both read-outs of data at the same time, to make sure that they always agree, and to guard against not having a backup if one of them fails underwater.
So think like this: most tech divers are in favor of TWO computers at once!
Multi-gas computers are nice if you plan to dive repetitive multi-gas dives. If not, then there is not that big a difference in using a single gas nitrox computer, where you use multiple nitrox mixes, say for example, EAN25 as your diving gas and EAN40 or 50 as your deco gas. You set your computer to EAN25 and follow the EAN25 egression instructions.
If you really are going to do deco, however, you need to plan your dive and slate your dive plan, and then dive your plan, in case you lose your computer to failure of some kind, and you still have a deco obligation. Or else you would need to wear two multi-gas computers at once, or stick close to a buddy who has one as well.
I know that the DiveRite NiTec works well as a multigas air or nitrox computer. I have friends who use it.
I have not seen a trimix dive computer that works well yet, that I like.
weekender
Contributor
i agree with DeepTechScuba. but i did read it fast, and have been called a dolt. anyway, i use a vr3 and a backup bottom timer like most of my wreck buddies. a few use tables only and are more conservative divers than me. im a firm believer in personal preference. i love my computer and would have two as a backup if not for the price tag. about 1grand. check out the vr3 website for technicals. i can give you some non technicals why i like it. it is easy to switch gas underwater and on land. it has only two easy to use buttons, not water activated thingies. if i skip a stop it makes a new calculations for me(remember ive been called a dolt). also, i can read it, the screen is large. they say its the last comp you'll ever own brecause they promise all upgrades will be made available for a nominal cost. if they keep to this its a great price for the only comp you'll ever own. but if not, its solid medal and will make a cool paperwieght. all kidding aside if you can afford it i say its worth every dime.
OP
Didnt mean to step on any toes with the comment about no computers that was just my impression from dealing with a few tek wannabes I know. These guys told me they would never waste money on a computer because; they could do the math themselves, they never exceed their plan, and they have a backup plan incase they do. I didnt mean that no tek guys use computers; I just meant that the ones I know wont touch one.
Tekkie
Guest
For non-trimix diving the Nitek Plus works very nicely. It's an inexpensive (relatively) two gas nitrox computer. For trimix diving it makes an excellent bottom timer.
I previously dove two Nitek Plus's and am switching to a Nitek He and a Nitek Plus as I would like to have a helium computer as an additional backup.
I don't suggest (and I know you said you won't) doing deco dives exclusively by computer. That being said, having one adds some additional safety (IMHO) if the **** hits the fan. I would not personally choose to go deeper / intentionally extend my dive on a computer profile that I didn't have a written out plan for.
A friend of mine dives both a VR3 and a Nitek He (left wrist, right wrist), loves them both, and says they are both fine products.
-Atticus
I previously dove two Nitek Plus's and am switching to a Nitek He and a Nitek Plus as I would like to have a helium computer as an additional backup.
I don't suggest (and I know you said you won't) doing deco dives exclusively by computer. That being said, having one adds some additional safety (IMHO) if the **** hits the fan. I would not personally choose to go deeper / intentionally extend my dive on a computer profile that I didn't have a written out plan for.
A friend of mine dives both a VR3 and a Nitek He (left wrist, right wrist), loves them both, and says they are both fine products.
-Atticus
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